Mamfe Central Hauls $10,000 for 2013 Development Conference

The event was scheduled for Saturday March 2, and billed as a fundraiser dinner but turned out to be much more. The folks of Mamfe Central Washington came out elegantly and in style to support a cause and enjoy exquisite fine cuisine.  Within the atmosphere, there was sense of optimism, pride and hope for a better and rejuvenated Mamfe metropolis. This hope rest on prospects of a vibrant economy, and the rebirth of Mamfe as a commercial hub. We could see this happening once the ongoing road projects are completed in the division. But there is also a sense of hope that although small in numbers, the Mamfe Central community has an opportunity to contribute in the development of its division by investing in the education of the future generation.

Before we get into the details of how a small group could haul close to $10,000 on a winter evening for development, let’s look at how it all unfolded. The Tambe’s – Mirabel and Manfred are an exemplary young and hardworking couple in the community. You will never notice their presence until they fling open the doors of their quiet and beautiful residence as they did on this special night.  Indeed, everyone, I mean everyone was invited to Bristol wood terrace and if you missed the event, then regrettably you will have to wait until history repeats itself and in life sometimes, those occasions are rare.  Once ushered into the basement where the action was set to take place, you could smell the aroma of the cuisine at the stairs. The white clothe table settings was reminiscent of a fine French restaurant. Indeed, it was nothing short of Mamfe Central elegance – after all, the Mamfe Central folks always remind us they hold the keys to good life in Mamfe.

Chief Samuel Etchu took charge of the musical controls. He ushered us back to the good old days when he played the role of DJ and entertained the community at large. It seemed, the Chief never lost that mida’s touch as he supplied the vibes with a repertoire of selections of Manyu genres. It is the more reason, we have come to know the Mamfe Central Chief as one who carries a trademark of versatality and he sure did not disappoint.

Our host Chef Mirabel Tambe kept us wining and dining all night long. There was plenty to eat and drink – even if you had to do three rounds like I did. How could a Manyu event be deprived of Eru and plenty of particulars, Koki and all the fine dishes only bachelors could dream of.  Many thanks to the supporting cast of Mamfe Central ladies and Mirabel’s, mom – the one and only Dr./Mrs. Mary Tabot who prepared special take home dinner platters for high donors. Did I forget to mention the man of the house, the ever smiling and gentle Mr. Manfred Tambe –better half of Mirabel. Manfred was the maitre D, stocking the dinner tables with fine wines, whisky and beer. When I left the event at 1 am, the tables still had bottles standing; and I kept thinking maybe the cold winter now makes us drink less.

It finally came down to business and the raison etre for the event. Sesekou Dr. David Tambe (MEDWC USA Coordinator) flew in from Dallas Texas and delivered a pointed presentation of the goals of the 2013 Mamfe Central conference and MEDWC accomplishment since 2003. The audience was engaged and took part in a Q/A to know more especially with the prevailing standards of education in the division.  Perhaps the most touching and heart-rendering part of the program was watching images of little boys and girls standing in queue at the 2008 Eyumojock conference to receive scholarships. You could sense the joy and relief in these young people - knowing the larger community other than their parents cared and was there to support them to achieve their dreams.

As the night wore on, the audience dug deep into their wallets and contributed without reservations. The haul for the night was close to $10,000 with a late announcement from MECA Dallas of a contribution of $1000. With enthusiasm and renewed interest, the Mamfe Central conference will reach its goal of $15,000 before the conference doors open in Mamfe on March 22, 2013.

Given the resounding success of the dinner fundraiser, we learned one thing from the Mamfe Central community. Although development can sometimes be a game of numbers, what counts is commitment and the belief that every one of us can make a difference if we try. The Mamfe Central Washington community did more that try on a solemn quiet evening; they hauled $10,000 for development with the support of their patron Attorney William Tabot and Ms. Mercy Mokwonye (Fundraiser chief lady). As we left, Mirabel and Manfred were ever so present giving hugs, parting good bye and thanking us for coming. In the end, we thank our host the Tambe’s for the hospitality and opening their doors to Manyu with joyful abundance.

Mamfe: Acute water crisis blamed on outdated infrastructure. By Simon Etta

A Christmas vacation in Cameroon is never complete without breathing the dust and sometimes five hours or more driving to Mamfe. The journey is often less tedious and void of Police and Gendarmerie check points if you happen to use private instead of public transport. Based on past experience, I will advise you to avoid the later if at all possible. If unlucky to meet an overzealous officer, your vehicle could be grounded for hours and even towed if the driver refuses to settle…. Thank God, on this sojourn, we hired a private Toyota Carina and eventually made it from Kumba to Mamfe after eight hours. The journey took a bit longer because of two flat tires. The first occurred around Konye. The tire repair guy had it fixed and upon installation found another puncture he could not mend – neither did he have a new tire for sale.  I asked him what was the alternative, and he responded he could get it repaired the traditional way. I looked at the guy sternly and told him to do whatever it takes. At this time we had wasted almost two hours in Konye. He then said he will pour some garri inside the tire and that will seal it after a few minutes. I gave him the green light trusting his ingenuity and craftsmanship. Behold it worked and we took off happily. However, his engineering only lasted less than an hour before we heard an explosion and had to use our last spare tire.

We got to Nguti before nightfall and had to make a decision whether to use the Obang road or the old road which according to informed sources has since been graded.  A decision was made to take the Eyang/Bakebi route knowing if hell breaks loss, we could catch a nap at Sesekou Ebini or Akwo’s Acha Mgbe and enjoy some delicious goat pepper soup and fresh palm wine at either village. We hunkered down the dusty winding road with deep potholes. You have to be an experienced driver to ply these roads even during the dry season. It is very easy to get blinded with dust from passing vehicles and finding yourself in a ditch on attempt to escape a pothole. Since nightfall was fast approaching, we met very few vehicles on the way and finally got to Bachou with a sigh of relief. Driving from Bachou to Mamfe town made a big difference; it clearly spelled the difference a good road makes as the rest of our journey took us less than thirty minutes.

We happily arrived Okoyong on our way to Mamfe town and drove past the newly built Council offices between Okoyong and Badi Bridge. The building is quite impressive and worthy of a Municipality with two giant statues depicting “the hard working Manyu woman with a load on her head carrying a baby on the back”. The statue reminded me of our mothers, and how they toiled for us carrying cassava just to make sure we went to school. The other statue represented an Ekpe masquerade, the unquestioned symbol and pride of Manyu governance and authority that has held the culture together for centuries.

The euphoria and excitement of finally arriving our beloved Mamfe town was suddenly short lived.   We noticed everywhere was dark and very little social activity in town. It dawned on me before asking anyone that there was no light in the City. I proceeded to my family abode and before I could ask for water to take off some of the dust, I was told they haven’t had running water in over a month. I then reflected on my childhood and asked myself, when this cycle of suffering will come to an end for our people. How could they live for a month with no running water? I grew up bathing and drinking the cross river due to acute shortage of pipe borne water. After all these years, uncountable years, nothing has changed. The old song keeps playing itself over and over again like a dream, no electricity, no water and thus no economic activity in Mamfe town.

During the rest of my stay in Mamfe which lasted three days with family and friends, I made an attempt to discuss the water crisis and to find out what the authorities have done. According to the local inhabitants, the water company has not been able to solve the problem and it may take several more months. They have been told the cause is due to ageing infrastructure of the water pumping equipment that has been in existence since independence.  The question is why has this equipment not been earmarked for upgrade or gradual replacement?  I equally made an attempt to visit the Mayor’s office to inquire why the council cannot take over water distribution in Mamfe. I was merely told it was impossible because the water in Mamfe has been privatized and being managed by a Moroccan company. I truly doubt if this is real privatization and if so, then the company will soon go out of business with no income. For now, the water crisis in Mamfe remains with no quick solution in sight.

Access to running water remains a crisis for the people of Mamfe. With growing urbanization, there has to be political and economic determination to ensure sustainable water resources based on social need. Indeed, the water crisis in Mamfe has worsened and must be addressed by all stakeholders. Water management is complex. It is considered a cross cutting resource because it affects urban development, health, agriculture and leisure. With multiple stakeholders, it has to be addressed on a territorial basis. Management of water services requires high technical ability and adaptation to changing conditions. Some of these conditions may require external funding because of the high cost of infrastructure equipment and maintenance needs.

We as Manyu people and advocates for economic development must not allow future generations to suffer the consequences of our inaction. We cannot allow our people to continue in the 21^st century with the usual approach of managing our water crisis by doing nothing. We need to think of making realistic assessments of our water management capabilities and show unfailing commitment to equity. Maybe, just maybe, some political determination or grass root pressure and advocacy may earn a listening ear. Finally, the Manyu diaspora must find ways to understanding and implementing commonsense solutions to problems that represent the long term economic security of our people. Some of these solutions are around us, but we must dare to find them as other communities have done for their people. It is time to act big and the time is now.

Will Cameroon soon become an E-waste dump?

Electronic waste, otherwise known as e-waste will soon become an environmental nightmare in countries like Cameroon if not properly controlled and managed. Obsolete electronic waste comprise of such equipment as old television sets, mobile phones, refrigerators, printers and now computers. Many years ago, China and India were the dumping pits for obsolete electronics by the west. However, China and India have both improved their environmental laws and Africa has become the new found destination with Nigeria and Ghana as prime targets.

There is no doubt, the proliferation of computer devices and the digital revolution has brought social, economic and technological advances in all facets of life. The downside is - some of these developments may sooner or later become an environmental, and health nightmare in Africa. One area of concern is the decrease product life of computers, newer and faster innovations in the market place all leading to rapid obsolescence and waste products. It is now common to find average income families replacing cell phones like light bulbs, and dumping old electronics devices for the latest and greatest in the market. So what happens to the old products when they are replaced by these new gadgets? The problems are further compounded by lack of regulation, inadequate e-waste management policies, and the everyday demand for anything cheap such as used electronics from the west.

In countries like Cameroon, demand for computer items has been on the rise during the last 5-10 years. There is a growing need to catch up with  most of the world in technology by upgrading private and government facilities as well as educational institutions with computerization.  It is alright to bring the society in par with the global village by making sure every office and classroom desk in the country has a computer, however the problem is the quality of computers sitting on that desk.  A cursory look at most of the equipment reveals a disturbing trend. This trend is exacerbated by Cameroonians and foreign bodies who ship obsolete computers to Cameroon without regard for long term usefulness and the environment. Most of the equipment discarded in government and corporate offices in the west stays in storage facilities after use for an average of 3-5 years due lack of functionality. One reason is to promote capitalism and because newer computer software cannot be run on these old machines due to obsolete components.  The equipment is then donated to nonprofit organizations and by the time it is installed in an African classroom, it barely has little use and serves as a toy.

In order to prevent the dumping of this obsolete equipment in countries like Cameroon, regulators have to enforce the laws in the books or develop new ones to prevent this growing phenomenon. The problem with computer dumping in Cameroon is further promoted by Cameroonians involved in the business of importing old computers. These savvy business men and women often have no knowledge of the technology they are dealing with and therefore disregard the importance of useful technology and long term environmental concerns. Although there are international laws banning the export of computer waste, some shady individuals get around these by labeling the shipments as “charity donations or usable second hand goods’.

There is no doubt, the unprecedented importation of old computers into the Cameroon marketplace and now street corners will lead to environmental pollution as evidenced in Nigeria and Ghana. Research has shown that almost 85% of these computers are total “junk”. With the lack of recycling facilities, obsolete electronics contaminate ground water, rivers, lakes, crops and thus leave a specter of hazardous e-waste mountains with grave consequences for the environment and health. A final resting place for some of this waste is backyards where they are broken apart mostly by children to salvage copper, hard drives and components that can be sold. Without proper handling, the kids are exposed to toxic waste.  The Civil society in Cameroon can start reversing this trend before it gets too late by tightening environmental regulations, implementing e-waste management policies and enforcing strict regulation  and standards on what type of used computers can be imported to the country.

This article was written by Simon Etta for MEDWC Blog.

Trinity Hotel Limbe – A Traveler's Paradise in Cameroon

For most people who travel frequently, whether for business or leisure, a night in a good hotel can have a lasting impact on the success and fulfillment of their business venture or vacation experience. Because not all hotels are the same, travelers tend to either shop around or rely on references and internet reviews to make the ultimate choice on where to spend a good night. The question is not merely about a hotel offering the usual accommodation and dining experience but something that makes it unique and outstanding amongst the competition.

The Cameroon hotel industry is vibrant, steady and continues to improve and grow to international levels. It is now commonplace to find hotels with two, three, four and even five stars dotted across the country’s metropolis. This growth is fuelled by private sector actors investing in an industry that has always been the driving force in local economies around the world. Indeed, hotels account for a good portion of private sector jobs with yearly incremental growth in employment and massive contributions in local taxes and fees to City governments.

Limbe, one of the most beautiful and tropical coastal City’s of Cameroon, is the home of Trinity hotel. Limbe is also a seaside resort located on a fine bay with a backdrop of the famous Cameroon Mountain and considered an oasis of tropical coastal adventure. Trinity hotel situated near down beach and a walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean is one of Limbe’s finest. The hotel sits not too far from the water edge with a spectacular view of the ocean from its top floors. With a full scale restaurant, bar, pool, air-conditioned rooms and wifi internet, this modern hotel sets itself apart in excellence and guest satisfaction.

What therefore makes Trinity hotel unique and standout amongst the competition is quality service driven by a level of patronage. It is a direct connection between management’s vision, integrity and the hotel’s bottom line, paying special attention to customer needs and concern. In the hotel industry, integrity of this kind permeates an organization to create an effective culture directed to quality service. In the case of Trinity hotel, this is a culture that has come to place emphasis on customer service training across all levels of employees. In turn, there is a greater amount of discretionary service behavior all pointing to meeting and satisfying the demands of everyday customers. Upon arrival at the hotel you are welcomed by smiling faces, catering for your every need and making you feel at home. This includes the front desk, housekeepers, restaurant, bar staff and managers.

Based on hotel reviews, a great hotel should therefore offer not just comfort but excellent service, attractive design, clean atmosphere and well maintained scenic views. This is what Trinity has come to offer its growing customer base with guest from different parts of Cameroon and the world. When next in Limbe, get a taste of Trinity cuisine and fine hospitality by making it part of your unique experience and ocean front adventure. Visit Trinity at http://trinityhotelsrlimbe.com/trinity/.

Note: Trinity Hotel is operated and managed by the Obenofunde’s family. Simon Etta, the author of this article blogs for MEDWC. During his college years, he worked for the Hyatt Regency Hotel chain, learning about the hospitality industry and the importance of customer service. He has travelled extensively and lived in some of the finest hotels. Simon offers seminars in customer service to a wide variety of industries including hotels. In December 2011, he offered free customer service workshops to staff at Trinity, Elongo Gardens, and Data Hotels in Cameroon. He can be reached at esaghem@gmail.com

The Making of Ache Manyu – An Untold Story of Cultural Revival. By Simon Etta

In 1973, a courtly healthy baby named Bate Nico became the 4^th child of a blissful mother – Mami Pauline Bate (late) in Kembong, a village of 25,000 inhabitants, separated by a dusty 12 mile earth road from Mamfe town. By the age of six, the young Bate moved to Nguti to live with his aunt and attend primary school. He enrolled in Catholic school Nguti in 1979 and later returned to Kembong where he completed his primary education in 1985 after the aunt fell ill.

Like most young kids aspiring to enter secondary school, the young Nico’s parents could not afford to further his education. Ma Pauline Bate had just returned from a major surgery and depleted her little savings in medical bills. One evening, she called her young son and explained why he could not go to college but opted for him to learn a trade. After two years at home, and upon full recovery, Ma Pauline Bate sent her son to Mutengene to pursue a course in draftsmanship.

Nico set foot in Mutengene in 1987, and completed the program in building draftsmanship. He will then move on to open a business drawing plans and seeking building contracts. The business slowly developed, and a few apprentices were recruited who later became members of his musical troupe.

For Bate Nico, music is a genetic endowment, passing on from one generation to another within the family. One of his aunts was a famous singer who was widely revered and adored in the village with a voice befitting an angel. Legend holds that she was bewitched and lost her voice until her death. Based on historical accounts and testimony, Bate’s grandfather was also a custodian, storyteller and composer of Ekpe music. Upon his death one of the biggest Ekpe festivals in Manyu took place in Kembong due to his popularity. After grandfather died, Nico’s father kept up the pace, promoting the family’s musical legacy and became a founder of the famous Ngoh Njoh dance group in Kembong.

Since music was naturally in the family genre, Bate went on to start composing songs – mostly reggae, merenge, makossa etc. He played every instrument he could lay his hands on. His first break through came when the late McKnight Makoge invited him to CRTV Buea for a reggae program. His music clip hit the airwaves and fans started looking around for him including Regina Nkongho. When they finally met, Regina who was already a composer suggested they form a group to revive the Manyu culture. At first, Bate was hesitant believing music in the Manyu dialect will not have a wide appeal and be marketable like makossa or reggae.

In the early part of 1992, Bate Nico, Nkongho Regina, Ayuk Ashu, Taku Raphel, Epey Moses. Eta Unique and the late pa John Akem formed a group known as Ache Ejagham system. Later on, one of the members (Eta Unique) dropped out to continue on his own. The group went on to record its first album in September 1992 named “na money di find money”. The track was arranged by Jacob Nguni in Kumba with Bate Nico and Nkongho Regina as lead vocals. After collecting the master tape from Jacob, it was time to have it produced. In those days, most music in Cameroon was produced either in France or Nigeria, due to lack of recording studios. As a hungry lion in search of food, the group went around seeking for funds but to no avail until Ma Pauline Bate came to their rescue. With directions from Jacob Nguni, Bate and his group were advised to contact the famous late Nico Mbaraga in Nigeria for assistance with recording. After meeting prince Nico, he employed some of his workers to lead Bate and his team to Rogers all stars recording studio. Things did not work out as envisioned; Nico Mbaraga’s boys somehow led Bate and his group to the wrong studio where their master tape was destroyed. They later returned to Cameroon disillusioned, disappointed, broke and discouraged.

With disappointing results from the Nigerian trip, Ache Ejagham system disbanded. Nico and Regina decided to move on as couple, got married and began working and horning their musical skills. Since 1992, the couple has gone on to produce 8 albums and over 30 singles.

According to Bate Nico, music is something born in him. He considers music an appropriate medium to send messages far across and a way to sensitize people on day to day issues. To come up with lyrics, Nico often ponders about events that happen to people in society. He simply develops a story line, title and horns the instrumentals to perfection. Sometimes, he develops his thought process during sleep and gets up to pen down his ideas in paper. As a writer, composer, singer and instrumentalist, Nico possesses different skill sets in the music arena. He is directly involved in his music production, playing instruments, taking part in studio arrangement and recording.

As earlier depicted in his biography, Bate Nico is a likeable personality with an ever pleasing smile, electrifying dance steps, great vocals and sense of humor. His resourcefulness is a deep pride to Manyu and Cameroon.

Catch a glimpse of Bate Nico, the fervent artist with a silky rhythm as he concludes his musical tour of North America with a major concert billed for Friday August 12, 2011 in Lanham Maryland.

A Manyu Annual Carnival: Could this be the driver for Economic and Social rebirth of Mamfe?

Social networks and blogs have fast become a means of sharing information and exchanging ideas. Not too long ago, I stormed into a discussion on finding a suitable name for a Manyu annual festival or Carnival. The idea sounded so plausible and refreshing. Could this be something that will bring back some social life to Mamfe town? After all, similar events are taking place in various parts of the world. We often think of the various Caribbean carnivals, Brazilian carnival, Mardi gras in New Orleans., the Cologne carnival etc. Recently, the carnival fever has captivated Nigeria, with one of the most spectacular, colorful and entertaining carnivals taking place annually in Calabar.

What then is all this carnival fever about? Are there any social, cultural and economic benefits? According to the Wikipedia, Carnivals are a season of festivities. They involve a public spectacle, celebrations, and parade replete with concerts, parading troupes and many events for children. Carnival goers dress up in fine costumes, masquerades and often led by music and dancing lasting for one or many days.

Besides the local economy, there are three main benefits of any carnival – social, cultural and economic. For many people and communities, a carnival is a social way of life which revolves around carnival related events throughout the year as part of the preparations. For some communities, it is estimated that hundreds of people will be involved in preparation activities, including clubs and social groups. These groups take part in fundraising, building of carnival entries, organizing and attending social events. Through these activities, men and women of all ages and backgrounds learn and develop team work and social skills with experts in fields such as costume design, carpentry, electrical work, performance arts, accounting, public speaking etc.

Carnivals do bring out the best in showcasing rich cultural traditions. Since a carnival is essentially a community bottom up event, it glues communities together. Various dance groups and artist also have the opportunity to entertain and expose their unique talents and creativities to a wider audience. The Abuja carnival, claimed as the mother of all carnivals was the catalyst that brought many people together in an atmosphere of harmony and joy in celebration of each other and where cultural diversity and unity was extolled.

The economic impact of a carnival can be seen from sales that are generated from tickets, restaurants, hotels, sales of crafts, private parties and other services with indirect yields from costume design, hairdressing, and transportation. Indeed, carnivals have shown to be a vital factor for businesses in the hospitality and logistics industry.

There is no doubt; the biggest driver of any carnival to a community is economic empowerment through direct infusion of capital by visitors. A Manyu carnival will therefore present a perfect platform from brand visibility for consumer and market awareness. Besides including and promoting aspects of the Manyu culture, it strengthens the capacity of our local communities across the division to participate in an economically beneficial way. This will certainly bring back the glory days of Mamfe as the pride of Southwest with tourist and traders alike flocking to town for many days. The eventual tarring of the Mamfe Ekok corridor and Mamfe – Bamenda will hence facilitate and ease mobility.

We know too well that Manyu’s cultural diversity is quite phenomenal. With an annual carnival in Mamfe town bringing out the best of our people and diversity, Manyu stands a chance to market its individual uniqueness and peculiarities. A Manyu carnival is bound to feature remarkable sights and sounds of Manyu, showcase the creative spirit of our people, hospitality and passion for festivity and celebrations that have been a part of history.

Have Conflicts Derailed the Agenda of Manyu Organizations in the Diaspora?

In the United States, Manyu community organizations were the first to organize themselves within the larger Cameroon community. They did so by bringing their people who live in close proximity together and have a shared interest. They also drew inspiration and lessons from their parent organizations like MECA back home. Quite often, the interest of these new found organizations were to build coalitions for a common cause or assisting in the social, economic and cultural development of the homeland and division. In attempt to formulate policies and organize, these associations elect leaders, hold annual conventions, develop bylaws and seek for resources through member contributions and charity.

Despite the good intentions of these bodies to foster development back home, their foundations and reason d’être began to crumble. The organizations started developing unmanageable conflicts, derailing gains and impeding development efforts and initiatives. We all know too well that the potential for conflicts exists when and where people have contact. We also know that some Manyu men often display a pesky, aggravating personality, espouse a sense of superiority, and stubbornly refuse to give in during disputes. This display of non-negotiable skills and macho attitude has finally caught up with some in the leadership of the Diaspora organizations.

Although we tend to believe we know what causes some conflicts to emerge in our communities, we forget to imagine conflicts can be used effectively by groups as a strategy to bring desired changes. Indeed, not all conflicts are bad, although unmanaged conflicts which tend to linger for a long time can be a threat to the building blocks of a community group and thereby render it less effective as we may see in some cases.

Within the Manyu Diaspora community, we have witnessed a trend where individuals cultivate a dislike and disdain for certain people with whom they come into frequent contact. As a result of harbored conflicts, certain behaviors are manifested in public within the community and the long term effect seems to be aggression, disrespect and disregard to community building, solidarity and the unique thread that binds us all together “the Manyu culture and eyongemot”.

How then can the Manyu Diaspora community address its conflicts without demonizing one another and extending such aggression and disrespect to the children? Have we finally lost the moral fabric of a Grande Manyu community that was founded, carved and preserved by those who came before us? Is it ordained that every Manyu child must be a leader, Chief or Sesekou? These are some of the intrinsic questions we must reflect on.

The Manyu Diaspora like never before is today interwoven with conflict as a result of ethnocentrism. We tend to believe that our way of thinking and doing things is not only the best but the only right way. It is a belief that fuels a false sense of superiority even amongst our peers and thereby shows the lack of a shared sense of humility. We are therefore threatened by division and conflicts, dividing friends and families. At the very least, we fail to accomplish much as we compete, take sides on issues and lose sight of our common struggles and values. Today, there tend to be increased bitterness, alienation and divisions that will have long lasting impacts upon future cooperation amongst individuals holding positive views.

The way forward is for us to restructure our community organizations, deal with internal dissension and allow dissatisfied members to voice their complaints and opinions without penalty. Regardless of our levels of education, economic base or family heritage, we must recognize we approach life from different perspectives. It is therefore imperative to understand, if conflicts are not managed early and well, they tend to bring disinterest, lack of action and a breakdown of the community. Ultimately, members tend to withdraw and find it unwilling to participate in group projects. Although the best conflict control may be catching it early, avoidance whenever possible may be the best solution. As in the case whereby the conflicts already exist, a procedural resolution by reconciliation and/or compromise is the most appropriate solution.

For Manyu Diaspora, and in view of the conflicts harboring around the communities, the only option left on the table is to come to terms to negotiate for the interest of the community and division. Otherwise, if sharing common goals is no longer an option to those who have developed an ingrained hatred for their brethren, then living with conflicts to attain power and name recognition may be the only solution. The question is for how long and how far? That is a price too high to pay since it involves compromise and capitulation. Are we willing to compromise and capitulate for grand Manyu as we usher into a new year? The gods of Manyu will be watching and listening keenly.

Simon Etta

MEDWC Volunteer

Manyu Cultural Ambassador Dazzles Washington D.C.

Some have dubbed culture as the cry of men in search of their identity; whereas others see it as a broadening of the mind and spirit. In the words of Albert Camus, “without culture and the related freedom it implies, society even when perfect is but a jungle”. It therefore surmises that a society and people that fail to promote its culture eventually loses its identity.

For Manyu and its people, the authentic creation of our culture is nothing but a gift to the future generation that must be preserved and protected by its stewards. As in every generation, ours is blessed to witness such a creation in the talents of Arrey Bate Nico whom some have titled the “Manyu Cultural Ambassador”.

On Saturday October 16, 2010 and for the first time since the first Manyu immigrant arrived the land of the pilgrims, the Manyu cultural ambassador took Washington DC and its environs by storm. For over twenty years since the creation of MECA - with a primary goal of promoting our culture in the Diaspora, no event has captured such imagination, attention and anxiety of the community like the Bate Nico concert. It was a well planned cultural merriment, calling on the Manyu community at large to turn out, witness, celebrate and be part of our common destiny. Over 300 showed up across the continental United States - including parents, children, friends and non Manyu folks at the event center in Beltsville Maryland.

The curtains came tumbling down at midnight as Ekpe USA members dressed in custom designed regalia’s with elephant tusk made bracelets, necklaces and red/white embroidered hats - dancing in uniform motion, led the cultural icon to the lighted hall. It was a dazzling and eye watering spectacle as Bate Nico holding a microphone on one hand and dancing to the applause of spectators, led the troupe in a typical upbeat Ekpe rendition. As dancers paraded the hall, the awe, beauty, pride and personification of the Manyu culture was finally on display. It was a rare spectacle that seems to crown the efforts of the founders of MECA in the Diaspora, a spectacle that reminds us of other struggles in human existence with the echo “finally, the pride of a people can be heard a few miles away from the seat of power in the world”.

One song after another, Bate Nico as a true cultural ambassador, and by displaying different dance moves was able to split “from the physical to the spiritual, from the body to the soul in dazzling fashion. As the mesmerizing Ngoh Njoh dancers of Washington joined him on stage, the tasteful acoustic guitar lines, drum beats of music, and uniform steps of the Ngoh Njoh dancers underscored tales about peace, family, faith and tradition. The highlight of the evening was when Bate majestically walked several Sesekous to the dance floor. He had composed special songs for these Ekpe Chiefs and was about to pay homage by singing and dancing in their honor. As a master artist, he taped his feet, tuned his soprano voice and took the audience as far back as anyone can trace the Manyu culture, reminding us that songs are handed down as part of oral tradition and that humans are better glorified in the midst of their peers.

In the final analysis, our Manyu culture can be referred to as our images. It is a reflection of who we are as a people, community and society with a common identity. There is nothing more that binds us together than our culture. It is a tradition that has passed on from one generation to another, uplifting our spirits and promoting not only our identity but self esteem. With a cultural ambassador like Bate Nico these images of us will never be extinct and forever the Manyu culture will remain a master piece of our intangible heritage of humanity.

As Bate Nico left the stage in the early hours of the morning, he was crowned with over ten awards and prizes befitting not only an ambassador but a prince. For those who missed this remarkable performance and concert in Washington, it was a lost opportunity to witness the true Manyu culture in display by a legend and icon of our time.

** Simon Etta blogs for the Manyu Economic Development World Conference. He lives and works in Baltimore, MD.**

A Grandfather's Inspiration: A Musical Star is Born - Bate Nico

No Manyu artist in recent memory has influenced traditional pop culture the way Bate Nico has done. With a prolific silky rythmn, Arrey Bate Nico got inspiration to sing from his grandfather who was a custodian of the Manyu culture. He uses his music genre, form and style to promote and challenge cultural taboos and norms, believing music to be the most appropriate medium to communicate, heal, and emotionally connect with people of diverse backgrounds.

Bate Nico (alias) is the fourth child of a family of seven. Born to Pa Arrey Ebot Joseph and Ma Pauline Bate of Kembong, Nico began his musical career in 1987, three years before his maiden album named “Na Money di find money”. Soon after the release of that album, Bate was on a roller coaster though with difficulties finding a major producer. His love for music, especially folklore and translating Manyu tales did not slow down this future legend. As a writer and composer, he went on to produce 5 albums and over 20 singles.

This fervant artist is guided by a career that is lively and comprehensive, showing indefatigable wit, creativity and originality of vocals. He fully participates at national events like Mount Cameroon international race of hope amongst others. Bate’s musical troupe named “Ache Manyu” consist of his wife Nkongho Regina, two sons, a daughter and numerous dancers. Because of inclusion of typical traditional costumes and folklore in his rendition, the artist was nicknamed “Cultural ambassador”.

Bate's brand of folklore promotes the rich Manyu culture in an appealing sound bit. His music has enough verve vaulting his presence in homes across Manyu, Cameroon and the international scene. He displays a charming consistency on and off stage with alluring perfect and comforting tunes. The power of its catchy refrains simply makes you dance to sleep.

It is noteworthy to state that, Alias “Bate Nico” is a likeable personality with an ever pleasing smile, electrifying dance steps, great vocals and great sense of humor. His resourcefulness is a pride to Manyu, his peers, numerous fans and his country. It is for this reason that, this great star in the making and a future Manyu folklore legend is in great demand with concerts planned for North America, Europe and Africa. We are yet to see the best of Arrey Bate Nico.

The Gap between Computer “haves and have nots”: An early start for our Primary and secondary school bound.

In Cameroon today, the computer revolution has affected almost everyone's life. Computers are utilized for business communications, shopping, postal service, banking and much more. Being computer literate is a useful skill in today's society. However, to become familiar with computers, one must first have access to them. Generally these skills can be learned at school, but a problem arises in the fact that there is not equal access to computers in most of our schools. There continue to be a large gap between the computer "haves" and "have nots," especially among our primary and secondary schools and worst off, schools in rural areas where there is lack of electricity.

According to the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, computer literacy may be defined as "whatever a person needs to know and do with computers in order to function competently in our information-based society". Competency is therefore broken down into three categories: skills to use computers in learning and information management; knowledge of the capabilities, functions and social implications of computers; and understanding to learn and evaluate new applications and social issues of computers. These three areas encompass virtually every aspect of literacy in terms of computers.

Our information based society is fast becoming more dependent upon computers as resources. To function in many situations, familiarity with computer systems is necessary and therefore kids must acquire the required skills at an early age. In a minimal case, all stakeholders including the private industry, local and national government should be investing in computer literacy for the future generation by equipping schools with the right hardware and software.

Computers in education can be the foundation for students to learn technology based skills which are desirable for and often demanded in today's job markets. Generally, being accustomed to utilizing systems or being computer literate at an early age can aid not only in developing motor skills but being competitive on the global stage. Working together with the private sector, parents and government officials must therefore seize the opportunity and make sure young minds are not wasted at an early age. On a larger scale, our governments and development advocates have a responsibility to ensure diffusion of computer technology in our schools does not remain a national policy and lofty goal in paper but in practice.

Manyu Energy Crisis: Potential & Realistic Solutions by Simon Etta.

A question that often comes to mind is - how do we start attacking the energy crisis that has plagued our people for many years? The absence of reliable energy in Mamfe means the entire division, and more so the rural areas will continue to witness poverty, falling standards in education, healthcare and water crisis linked to lack of access to electricity. The idea of renewable energy as a viable solution or an alternative in lieu of diesel generators producing noise and polluting the environment sounds plausible. However, introducing renewable energy has not been practical in years past due to the high cost of Solar panels and understanding technology applications. Despite falling prices and eventual diffusion of alternative energy solutions in rural communities across Africa and the World, questions still remain in the case of Manyu. What is our strategy to relieve the many poor villages and rural inhabitants of Manyu out of darkness and isolation? How long will it take for us to realize we have a role to play in initiating the change and development we seek – either as advocates or implementers? Will our children in some far remote villages ever work on a computer before they graduate from secondary school? How many more kids will die in villages because they were bitten by a snake and the nearby local clinic had no anti snake venom due to lack of a refrigerator. These are some of the questions we
must analyze, and seek potential and realistic solutions.


A greater portion of the rural inhabitants of our division have no access to modern forms of energy such as electricity. The energy needs of our people are mostly met by traditional fuel that has been in use for centuries. With over 90% of our folks living in villages, traditional fuels such as wood and crop residue are the only energy source they have ever known. Whereas this type of energy has served them for cooking and kerosene lightning, the accumulated adverse effect over many years can become a health hazard. Science has taught us that burning fuels increases indoor air pollution, which affects the health of vulnerable young people and the elderly.


Despite some advances, electrifying rural areas in Manyu division will no doubt remain a unique challenge even for the government of Cameroon for many years to come. From an economic standpoint, our remote and scattered rural homes are costly and often impractical to connect to the national grid. The current policy of the Utility Company is to satisfy urban customers and major industries who pay more. Secondly, the government has not formulated a national policy or effectively promoted renewable energy as part of its overall rural electrification strategy to enhance economic and social life.

A cursory look at the energy statistics in Cameroon paints a gray picture, and reminds us of the enormous task ahead. Overall electricity access is 46%, with 11% of rural households having electricity but subject to constant cuts, and interruptions lasting days. Approximately 80% of the rural populations use wood fuel or charcoal to meet energy needs. Out of 15,000 villages, 14% have electricity that is 1 out of every 1500. It is estimated that the lack of reliable energy service is costing the economy tremendously in terms of GDP growth.

In 2001, Sonel was privatized through a 20 year concession and granted monopoly over transmission and distribution of electricity throughout the country and the right to own 1000MW of installed generated capacity. Cameroon is dependent on hydroelectricity with an installed base of 77% hydro and 22% thermal (diesel and heavy fuel), but the major rivers are drying up due to global warming. In essence, investment in hydro dominated power system has not kept up with demand growth - risking shortages’ and load shedding particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.



There are 3 existing reservoirs in the nation but they do not have sufficient storage to maintain reliable power supply during the dry season. Currently there is a project to build the Lom Pangar dam. However the country will still need additional hydro power from 2012-13 and up to accommodate planned industrial projects such as expansion of Alucam, several iron, cobalt, bauxite and other mining projects under negotiation. It must be noted that Alucam accounts for 35% of total power consumption in the country and benefits from a guaranteed supply of 20% of national output.

So what is the panacea for the energy situation in Manyu? Every day we hear horror but true stories of Mamfe with no light and no water for two weeks. The power grid reaching Mamfe passes through the dense equatorial forest from Bamenda and is subject sometimes to trees, birds and snakes falling on high tension lines and causing short circuits. However, that is an iceberg to the problem. As illustrated above, there isn’t enough energy supply to reach Mamfe and nothing will change for the foreseeable future. Energy sector development in Cameroon has been subject to economic interest, political influence and weakness in sector planning.

We as a people have an obligation and a moral/economic duty to address and find a solution in the short term to our energy crises. We must start thinking out of the box and take proactive positions which will enhance the living conditions of our people. No electricity in Manyu means kids cannot do home work at night. Our parents will drink water from polluted streams and rivers. Standard of living will continue to deteriorate, more social exclusion and increased inequity between urban and rural areas, increased unemployment and urban migration in search of jobs.

Renewable energy and standalone energy such as Solar and wind power are the only solution to help fill the electricity void in Manyu. The sun is free and inexhaustible in our area with a solar irradiance of about 5 hours a day. Solar photovoltaic panels – convert the sun’s radiation directly to electricity with no pollution, little maintenance and long term reliability lasting 20-25 years for a one time investment. The panels generate enough power to run stoves, pump water, light clinics, schools, community centers and entire villages and towns. It is time to move Manyu out of the less traditional energy sources such as wood, biomass (crop waste) dominant for cooking. This comes at a huge cost to our long term health and environment with falling of trees. Manyu must therefore embrace Solar technology as other rural communities around the world are doing – India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia etc, to witness economic expansion, unprecedented social uplifting and poverty alleviation. The time is now and organizations such as MECA USA must take the lead in education, sensitization and development of pilot initiatives. We cannot wait another 20 years for the power grid to come to our communities. Our educational levels and standard of living will continue to fall and we as a people will hence play second fiddle to the future development of Cameroon. Can Manyu afford to wait idle as development passes us by in this age of internet technology and globalization?


Note: Summary of a power point presentation delivered during the MECA USA 20th annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia - July 3, 2010. The writer has a strong background in Telecommunications and serves as Acting Director of Communication Services for the City of Baltimore - Government.

Bamenda - Mamfe Road - Real Transformation

Cameroon Tribune:
Godlove Bainkong
22 June 2010

Chinese engineers in charge of the project are working tooth and nail to make the once muddy and winding road a thing of the past.

Never in the history of the people of Batibo and Widikum (North West), Bachuo Akagbe and Mamfe (South West) Regions, has there been serious construction works, with high-level state-of-the-art equipment, like what is going on now. Passers-by and the local population alike do describe the area now as a vast construction site, with efforts to modernise the once muddy and bumpy road taking centre stage. This is within the framework of a joint Cameroon-Nigeria project, code-named, "Bamenda - Enugu Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme" which seeks to tar the 443 km road from Cameroon to Nigeria and boost relations and socio-economic ties between the two countries.

From the 42km Bamenda-Batibo stretch to the 62km Mamfe-Ekok section, the 203 km distance of the multinational project to be executed in Cameroon is increasingly gaining steam. Bulldozers are digging, engineers surveying and the road and its vicinities taking a facelift. Deviations are all over as engineers of the Chinese consortium charged with the execution of the much-heralded project are altering the hitherto winding nature of the road to give the new one better visibility. Bridges are being constructed as machines are working round the clock around the Widikum forest to extract and grind hard gravel being used on the road. A Yaounde-based indigene of Mamfe who travelled with this reporter to and from Ekok rejoiced that work is rapidly progressing on the road. "I passed on this road two weeks ago and so much has changed. Tarring this road is synonymous with giving life a boost in these localities", she rejoiced.

In course of the Minister of Public Works' visit to Mfum and Ekok last week to officially flag off the Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok-Enugu Trans-African highway, the populations of these localities came out like one person to appreciate the life-changing venture. In all of the sites where Mr Messengue Avom and his delegation made stopovers, the joy was total. The villagers wore t-shirts and erected banners with inscriptions like, "Road for Development", "We thank the governments of Nigeria and Cameroon for this move to improve on our living". Their joy was understandable as in three years when the entire project is expected to round off, people cultivating cassava, plantains and other food crops as well as cash crops will make a choice of either staying home and attracting buyers or taking their produce to a market of their choice. Analysts say upon completion, the once nightmare users of the road had when travelling on the road will be history, the hitherto days or weeks they took from Cameroon to Nigeria will be reduced to hours and the volume of trade between the two countries will greatly increase

Chief Mbi Oruh Michael - Funds for the Project are available.

Cameroon Tribune

Chief Mbi Oruh Michael, Technical Adviser NO.1 in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Technological Development and Project Coordinator.

What is the project on improving palm oil production all about?

The oil palm project has three components. The first component is technology transfer. We want to improve on existing mail, that is taking a small mail to a larger scale. The second phase is to increase the supply capacity. That is, helping farmers by giving them fertilisers and teaching them good agronomic techniques so that they can be able to improve their farm yields. Finally, we talk about market access and this means quality, for without good quality you cannot be competitive in the international market.

Does the project seek to modernise or industrialise palm oil production in the country?

Actually we want to industrialise it, you know that we are the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Technological Development. When you talk in terms of modernising, you move towards industrialisation. But we want to take those involved in the sector gradually. The Malaysians started this with four hectares per person and we think in Cameroon we can start it with five hectares per person but we are encouraging small and medium-sized companies likewise big ones into the sector. In the Malaysian context, we have the small producers about 80 - 90 per cent of the total production as against 5 - 10 per cent in Cameroon. So the agro-industries are producing about 90 per cent and that is why we have a problem of poverty. It is only when this is reversed that we can talk of improving the income generating potentials of oil palm production and stepping up the standards of living of the population.

How far with the project, some weeks after its official launching?

We launched it on March 4, 2010 and that was actually the inception where we are trying to identify the various pilot centres. We have visited some pilot centres; a lot of them have not met the criteria and based on that we are now trying to visit some other groups. However, the finances had been cleared. You know it is financed by the Common Fund for Commodities and to be executed by UNIDO. So everything is set in terms of implementation but we want to get the real actors because in a project you need to make a right choice so as to attain your objective. Cameroon has four centres and a big country like Nigeria has two. Another important thing is that we are going to help Cameroonians who have one hectare to move up to about five hectares and when you calculate you can realise that the person with five hectares can earn about FCFA 200,000 - 250,000 a month.

How much is the entire cost of the project and what will Cameroon government contribute?

We are talking about a project of about FCFA 2 .5 billion. The Cameroon government has what we call counterpart contribution which is about FCFA 400 million and it has started paying so we are on tract. So far, the money for the project is available.

What is national production, what is the actual demand and what is your target?

One difficulty we have in Cameroon is in terms of statistics. So far, we say we have a production level of about 200,000 tons yearly and demand is about 250, 000 tons so we have a deficit of 50,000 tons annually. Palm oil contributes greatly to the country's socio-economic development looking at the areas that are concerned with the product.

MEDWC USA bags $10,000 during Fundraising event for Akwaya

Maya Angelou once wrote, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver”. With more than $10,000 raised in less than 3 hours, Manyu elements in Washington DC and its environs liberated their souls by giving back to the needy and under-privilege children of Akwaya.

The occasion was the (MEDWC) fundraising dinner that took place in Maryland on Saturday March 6, in support of the 2010 Economic Conference bound for Akwaya on March 22, 2010. The joyous evening was hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Cletus Ayuk in their Burtonsville, Maryland residence and in attendance MEDWC USA Coordinator Sesekou Dr. David Tambe who flew in from Dallas, Texas to grace the occasion and present an overview of the organization’s activities.

Knowing too well that in tough economic times money becomes tight, and thus making it difficult for others to donate, the master of ceremony for the evening Ms. Ivert Tambe employed her superb fundraising theatrics and called on donors to dig deep in support of the children of Akwaya. The response was overwhelming as attendees spoke of their deep rooted love and pride in the development of Akwaya and its complete disenclavement.

MEDWC will therefore like to extend a big thank you to all who participated and contributed to the success of the event. In return, the organization will continue its charitable mission and implement short term conference projects by organizing a health fair, support IT awareness with computers to schools, assist in sustainable energy, providing generators to clinics and promoting academic excellence through financial aid packages to merited students.

For more on MEDWC - visit http://www.medwc.org

AKWAYA 2010 CONFERENCE SET FOR MARCH 22

The USA Cordinator for the Manyu Economic Development Conference (MEDWC) Sesekou Dr. David Tambe has once more called on sons and daughters of Manyu in the USA to work together for a successful economic conference in Akwaya. Reports from MEDWC Secretary General in Yaounde Mr. Enow Chris Oben confirm the official date for the 2010 event has been set for March 22, in Akwaya town with a possible delegation led by our patrons, H.E. Peter Agbortabi and Victor Mengot. It must be recalled that Sesekou Dr. David Tambe has professionally managed MEDWC efforts in the USA with two ground breaking conferences in Tinto (2005) and Eyumojock (2008) providing various forms of assistance to the local communities and the needy. The restructuring of the defunct Manyu world conference in 2003 created an enabling environment to rotate these events amongst the sub-divsions of Manyu.

Today, the Manyu Economic and Development World Conference operates as a regisitered Non-Governmental Organization - created in Mamfe in December 2003, in an attempt to integrate the efforts of the different organizations actively involved in Manyu development. Conferences thus provide a forum for the different organizations and stake holders involved in Manyu development to discuss and tackle problems of Manyu from a common Platform. Participants at each conference include the business community, non profit organizations, healthcare organizations and other NGOs.

For Akwaya 2010, conference projects will include, a health fair at a local health center. Conference health fairs provide an opportunity for participating health organizatons and physicians to provide health screening, free medical supplies and free medications to the local communities. Other conference projects will be donation of generators and computers to the Council and Health centers. Because tuition and fees has become an uphill battle for a lot of our young and bright, the conference promotes academic excellence by awarding financial assistance to secondary and high school students in the area.

For more information on MEDWC activites and its current organizational structure, please visit the website.

Promoting Small & Medium Enterprises for Sustainable development in Manyu through Trade shows by Simon Etta

Beds produced with fine Manyu wood and sold locally.

Poverty results from unequal access to resources and power and sometimes between social and cultural groups. It is therefore important that the fight against any form of poverty galvanizes strong organizations that serve the interest of the poor and help change structures that sustain poverty. We also know too well that the basic purpose of development is to enlarge people’s choices by creating enabling environments to live long, healthy and prosperous lives. The question is how do we develop the right model within our current organizational structures to fight poverty in Manyu division?

This food processing company based in Mamfe packages spices for export.

Although global wealth has more than doubled since the 90’s, half of the worlds’ population still sustains on less than $2 (900CFA) a day. In most parts of the world, especially in sub-Sahara Africa, poverty remains a major challenge to sustainable development, security and stability. Economic growth that is inclusive and reaches the majority of the masses is the only medicine to alleviating chronic poverty. Since small and medium size enterprises are the backbone of economic activity in any society, improving their performance, and sustainability at the local level through public events and exhibitions can increase their leverage to the world.

Locally made Cane chairs are durable and affordable for many house-holds.

Food processing machinery - needed by our farmers:

Trade shows have therefore become a perfect setting to meet potential customers and develop business network resources for our local enterprises. One such event took place in Mamfe during the week of November 14, bringing together business and investors all over Cameroon and Manyu division. The forum provided an opportunity to make direct entries to markets, interact with exhibitors and show case products made in Manyu such as machinery, textiles, clothing, woodwork, building material, food products etc.

Egusi Pudding cake, now used for weddings and special events.

Although many of our people do not currently take advantage of trading for lack of capital and entrepreneurial spirit, events like trade shows do provide the opportunity to develop synergy with trading partners from far and near. With a vast forest land and abundance of food and cash crops, Manyu division can certainly develop a fledging small and medium enterprise infrastructure that will help sustain development and alleviate poverty through open border trade with the biggest market in Sub Sahara Africa (Nigeria).

Office table made out of Mahogany wood found in rich Manyu forest.

Customized/mechanized Tri-cycle for handicap use - made in Manyu division.

Note:

Pictures were taken by MEDWC USA Member - Mr. Victor Eware Tataw who was present during the 2009 trade show in Mamfe.

Buying a ticket for International travel by Elizabeth Smith, eHow Writer

When you're purchasing plane tickets, timing can be everything. Ticket prices change from day to day, and even from seat to seat. When purchasing plane tickets, you can get the best price by heeding a few simple tips and following some basic strategies:


Time Frame

1. In general, the best time to start searching for a plane ticket is the moment you have an idea of your itinerary and travel dates. The sooner you start assessing the general trend of ticket prices, the more able you will be to find a good deal. As a travel date approaches, plane tickets tend to get more expensive due to increased demand.

Geography

2. When buying a plane ticket, consider the general trend of prices. Normally, ticket prices rise during the high tourist season. A ticket to Rome in January, for example, will generally be far cheaper than a ticket to Rome in July. When planning your trip, consider buying plane tickets for travel in the tourist off-season.

Identification

3. Take advantage of an airline search engine's alert features. Both Kayak and Orbitz allow you to sign up for email alerts when prices for your specified itinerary drop below a target price. When you get such an email, act immediately to purchase your plane ticket, as the price may rise soon thereafter. For some itineraries, ticket prices can vary by hundreds of dollars within the same month or week.

Features

4. Use websites like FareCompare to get an idea of the pricing history of you chosen route. FareCompare will give you the best prices between a selected pair of cities for each month of the year, and will allow you to see prices from the past year. Once you have selected a month to travel, the site will display prices for each day of that month, so you can choose by price or schedule.

Theories/Speculation

5. It is widely felt that the best time of the week to buy plane tickets is from midnight to 1 or 2 a.m on Wednesday. Apparently, this is the time when airline reservation systems are updated and new fares come into effect. As only a certain number of seats are generally available at a low fare, they tend to sell out quickly. While there is no hard evidence to support this belief, it can't hurt to try; also try your searches at different times of the day and night to increase your changes of getting a bargain.